woman microneedling her eyebrows by professional

Like many of the cosmetic services Brian D. Cohen, M.D. offers, microneedling is a safe, office-based treatment. The process is designed to enliven the skin’s surface, restoring a healthy glow, while also distributing nourishing substances more deeply. Less invasive than plastic surgery, microneedling has a number of positive aesthetic effects. If you are looking to smooth out scars and wrinkles and decrease the size of your pores, it may be the right choice for you.

The microneedling process is named for the tiny sterile hypodermic needles the doctor uses to gently puncture the skin. Nevertheless, some patients believe microneedling is suitably named for its seeming reference to fine sewing or embroidery, since both processes involve exacting attention to detail. Microneedling is also known by other names, such as collagen induction therapy (CIT) and derma rolling. Whatever it’s called, in addition to making you more attractive, it can enhance your self-image. 

If you would like to discuss microneedling and/or other cosmetic procedures that can rejuvenate your appearance and provide your skin with a youthful glow, contact Dr. Cohen for an appointment. You will find that his goal is always to improve your appearance by letting your natural beauty shine through. In addition to having exceptional surgical skills, he has a well-deserved reputation for artistry. 

Reasons So Many Patients Choose Microneedling to Improve Their Skin

Microneedling is a remarkably successful method of revitalizing the overall appearance of the skin by treating a number of different skin problems at the same time, including:

  • Acne scars
  • Age spots
  • Uneven skin tone on the face
  • Aging hands
  • Crepey or wrinkled skin 
  • Enlarged pores
  • Stretch marks on other body parts (buttocks, thighs) due to growth or weight gain 
  • Stretch marks on the abdomen due to pregnancy

As you can see, though microneedling is typically used on the face, it can also be an effective treatment for other parts of the body.

The Microneedling Procedure

The first step of the procedure is applying a numbing gel to the targeted area to prevent discomfort. After it has taken effect, usually in about 20 minutes, Dr. Cohen will begin gliding a skin pen with many very fine needles over your skin, being careful to cover each targeted area multiple times. During the procedure, your skin will turn pink and then slightly red. Small specks of blood will begin to appear by the time Dr. Cohen is finished.

You should not be distressed by the blood spots — they are evidence that the treatment is working as it should. Each tiny microneedle applied to your skin creates a miniaturized opening that prompts your skin cells to begin producing collagen and elastin to heal the skin. Collagen firms cause your skin to tighten and refresh.

Once Dr. Cohen has finished performing the microneedling procedure, he will clean your skin gently with gauze soaked in distilled water. Afterward, he will send you home with special serums and ointments to help the tiny pinpricks to heal properly. Although you will experience some flushing for a few days and your skin will be actively healing and tightening for a few weeks, you will require very little downtime after the procedure. Dr. Cohen will, however, strongly recommend that you avoid direct sunlight for several days.

How many microneedling procedures are needed?

In most cases, patients should have at least three consecutive microneedling treatments, typically 4 to 6 weeks apart. Dr. Cohen recommends annual or biannual follow-up visits in order to maintain maximum results.

The Benefits of Combining Microneedling with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

Platelets, one of the three types of human blood cells, are tasked with causing our blood to clot. They have strong reparative powers and are especially adept at repairing the skin by stimulating the body to produce collagen and elastin, the natural healing substances mentioned earlier. As you might imagine, incorporating platelet-rich plasma therapy, during which one’s own enriched platelets are reinjected into the bloodstream, accelerates the microneedling process. 

Advantages Over Other Aesthetic Skin Procedures

Our patients are drawn to microneedling for several reasons, including:

  • Microneedling is nonsurgical and takes less healing time than a facelift
  • Because microneedling is an office procedure, only minimal downtime is necessary
  • Microneedling does not pose the risk of discoloration (particularly of dark skin) that some laser techniques do 
  • Microneedling, even when requiring multiple treatments, is less costly than most cosmetic skin procedures 

Though It Can Be Extremely Beneficial, It Is Not for Everyone 

Patients with active skin lesions are not good candidates for microneedling. If you have any of the following conditions, microneedling is not recommended:

  • Periodic outbreaks of cold sores
  • Herpes
  • Active or cystic acne
  • Shingles (though in some cases patients who have received prior treatment 

with antiviral medications to prevent flare-ups may be eligible)

Why Patients Flock to Dr. Cohen’s Offices in Manhattan and Great Neck

Whether you are looking for a nonsurgical aesthetic procedure like microneedling or seeking the very best in plastic surgery, contacting Brian D. Cohen, M.D. is a wise choice. Rated exemplary and compassionate by several of the most highly respected hospitals and schools in the nation, he offers a unique combination of medical and artistic expertise along with deep personal concern with your well-being.